Ken Clarke Warns Tories Will Suffer By Obsessing Over Europe And Immigration

The Tories will suffer at next year's General Election if they obsess over the issues of European Union reform and immigration, a recently departed minister has said.

Ken Clarke, who first became a minister more than 40 years and stood down as minister without portfolio at the reshuffle earlier this month, said the Tories should not obsess over Europe and immigration in a bid to lure voters away from Ukip, who came first in May's European elections.

He said the party had to ensure it struck a "balance" between different issues and not give way to "hysterical, high-pressure campaigning" that prevails.

He used the example of the 2013 Eastleigh by-election, where the Lib Dems successfully defended their seat and the Tory candidate came third after Ukip, saying it showed how the party could "lose what should be safe Conservative seats".

Ken Clarke said the EU and immigration 'are not winning issues' if the party 'gets the balance wrong'

“21st century politics now has an atmosphere of hysterical high-pressure campaigning, seven days a week, which dominates the life of the government,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.

“If you get the balance wrong, they (Europe and immigration) are not winning issues. The Eastleigh by-election showed that running a campaign on Europe and immigration is a way of losing what should be safe Conservative seats.”

“Every political leader has always known that simply cheering up your more hardline activists is no way to win an election. The point of an election is to attract to you people who might otherwise vote Labour or Lib Dem.”

Cameron has pledged to hold an in/out referendum on Britain's EU membership in 2017, if the Conservatives win in 2015.

Labour has pledged to hold a referendum but only if there is a move by Brussels to take on more powers.

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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage is interviewed by media as he arrives at the Guildhall for the results of the South East election count on May 25, 2014 in Southampton, England. UKIP, which advocates withdrawal from the European Union, is predicted to make strong gains in the elections. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage (C) waves as he speaks to the media at the Southampton Guildhall announcement of the South East England region results from the European Parliament elections in Southampton, southern England, on May 25, 2014. Results starting rolling in the European Parliament elections with all eyes on potential gains by Europe's increasingly popular anti-EU parties. Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UKIP, on May 25 said his party was on course to cause a political 'earthquake' by winning the European parliament election in Britain. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage (C) is shown a display of results from the various wards of the South East England region ahead of the official announcement of the final results from the European Parliament elections at the Southampton Guildhall in Southampton, southern England, on May 25, 2014. Results starting rolling in the European Parliament elections with all eyes on potential gains by Europe's increasingly popular anti-EU parties. Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UKIP, on May 25 said his party was on course to cause a political 'earthquake' by winning the European parliament election in Britain. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

Nigel Farage, Leader of UK Independence Party ( UKIP) arrives at the European Parliamentary elections count at the Guildhall in Southampton, Hampshire.

UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage (C) attends the Southampton Guildhall announcement of the South East England region results from the European Parliament elections in Southampton, southern England, on May 25, 2014. Results starting rolling in the European Parliament elections with all eyes on potential gains by Europe's increasingly popular anti-EU parties. Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UKIP, on May 25 said his party was on course to cause a political 'earthquake' by winning the European parliament election in Britain. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage (C) is shown a display of results from the various wards of the South East England region ahead of the official announcement of the final results from the European Parliament elections at the Southampton Guildhall in Southampton, southern England, on May 25, 2014. Results starting rolling in the European Parliament elections with all eyes on potential gains by Europe's increasingly popular anti-EU parties. Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UKIP, on May 25 said his party was on course to cause a political 'earthquake' by winning the European parliament election in Britain. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage arrives at Southampton Guildhall for the announcement of the South East England region results from the European Parliament elections in Southampton, southern England, on May 25, 2014. Results starting rolling in the European Parliament elections with all eyes on potential gains by Europe's increasingly popular anti-EU parties. Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UKIP, on May 25 said his party was on course to cause a political 'earthquake' by winning the European parliament election in Britain. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage arrives at Southampton Guildhall for the announcement of the South East England region results from the European Parliament elections in Southampton, southern England, on May 25, 2014. Results starting rolling in the European Parliament elections with all eyes on potential gains by Europe's increasingly popular anti-EU parties. Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UKIP, on May 25 said his party was on course to cause a political 'earthquake' by winning the European parliament election in Britain. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)